December 13th thunder/hail E/South Island!!

[Lacertae]

The cold trough isn't here yet … no panic ...

[Storm Struck]

Thought id set up a new thread for future reference, looks good today will head out with others once things fire up.
Mods could you please shift a few posts over to here

[dogmelon]

The cloud cover has ruined it.

[Razor]

Too chilly and too cloudy here so far. Not inspired

[Weather Watcher]

High cloud is expected to move out to the east over the next couple of hours. The atmosphere is already very unstable over Canterbury and northern Otago, and one weak thunderstorm has developed west of Ranfurly (11am). Although the cloud cover is keeping the temperatures down a bit, it's also maintaining the moisture through the atmosphere. It's still looking good...

[03Stormchaser]

Too chilly and too cloudy here so far. Not inspired

You were posting similar posts last time we had storms then, I take it as a good omen where you post negative, boost my confindence storms will prove you wrong lol

[03Stormchaser]

High cloud is expected to move out to the east over the next couple of hours. The atmosphere is already very unstable over Canterbury and northern Otago, and one weak thunderstorm has developed west of Ranfurly (11am). Although the cloud cover is keeping the temperatures down a bit, it's also maintaining the moisture through the atmosphere. It's still looking good...

Spot on. Good to see some agreement with myself. Will be heading out very shorlty.

[dogmelon]

Too chilly and too cloudy here so far. Not inspired

You were either last time we had storms aswell Its a good omen where you post negative, boost my confindence storms will prove you wrong lol

There may well be something but the cloud has knocked the icing on the floor. It could have been so much better.

[Storm Struck]

Cloud cover is turning into isolated showers which is clearing and breaking good heating layers, not to mention surface moisture.
There's a good strong TCU line to the SW of here and its pushing through the mid level layer.

[Razor]

Too chilly and too cloudy here so far. Not inspired

You were posting similar posts last time we had storms then, I take it as a good omen where you post negative, boost my confindence storms will prove you wrong lol

Yeah hope I'm wrong. In its favour is that it is still early enough for more heating etc. Can add the no wind factor at present. Lets see hope something pans out!

[Orion]

Light rain has begun here - and that was a roll of thunder just now!

[Dean.]

Thunder just west of town and passing shower

[Orion]

Half a dozen peals of thunder in the past 5 minutes

[NZstorm]

With a highly dynamic cold set up like today there does not need to be much heating for thunder. But from a storm chasing perspective you want heating because the more CAPE the more likely the stormcell will interact with the shear.

[Orion]

A little bit of fine hail in with the rain, just at the moment.

[Dean.]

3 to 4mm sized hail here now,thunder and lightning

[Orion]

My Methven Spy reports hail also.

[Razor]

Separate thread for today's event may be ? I think we'll be a bunch willing to post updates or discuss what's coming up next.

Done

[Dean.]

The storm is intensifying as it heads to the NE past Ashburton.

[Razor]

Looks vigorous on the radar. A few other developments to watch too by the looks. Have fun, those of you out chasing

[Growler]

lightning tracker just went nuts down South Canty way.

http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/lightning-radar

[Richard]

Dam this NW wind not sure anything is going to happen around here, so bugger it, me and my two girls are heading down around Rangiora......................

[Razor]

Great rumbles overhead here at home. Explosive alright!

[Karliosis]

1 IC bolt seen and a few rumbles to the south of here (Riccarton)

[dogmelon]

Great rumbles overhead here at home. Explosive alright!

Just SW of you seems to be some sort of magic spot where these storms finally turn thundery. It happens like clockwork.